Early Intervention (EI) Service

The CAMHS Early Intervention Service helps children and young people who are finding things hard with their mental health.

We work closely with the CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) team. We offer assessments, advice and short-term support to help with mental health difficulties before they become bigger problems.

Many children and young people who come to our service have already had support from school or other services, but they still need some extra help.

How do we work?

First, we meet with you to learn more about what is happening and how we can help.

We usually offer 3 sessions to:

  • get to know you
  • understand your worries and concerns
  • talk about your strengths
  • agree some goals together
  • make a plan for support.

After this, we can offer up to 10 sessions to help you work towards your mental health goals.

We may also give advice and help you find other services if needed.

What happens after that?

Many young people achieve their goals and do not need any more support from the Early Intervention Service.

If you need support from another service, we will help you find the right one.

If you need more mental health support from CAMHS, we will work closely with other CAMHS teams. We will help make the move to a new team or clinician as smooth as possible.

Our team

Our team includes different mental health professionals, a clinical lead, a team manager and administrators.

Before your first appointment, we will send you an “All About Me” information sheet. This will tell you who you will be meeting.

Where will my appointments be?

We work across Somerset and try to offer appointments at a clinic close to where you live.

Our appointments are available between 9am and 5pm.

We usually like to meet young people face to face at one of our clinics. We know this is not always easy, so we can talk about what works best for you when we arrange your appointment.

Appointments may take place:

  • at one of our clinics
  • at your GP surgery
  • at school
  • online

We will try to choose the option that feels most comfortable and helpful for you.

Information for Young People and Families
Why have I been referred to this service and what can I expect?

You can expect to be invited to meet with us, which can happen face-to-face, via telephone or virtually.

You will be offered up to 10 sessions to work on the goals you have defined, alongside the practitioners.

To support your care plan and future goals, we might also have meetings with partners across health, education and social care.

Information for Professionals
Who can refer and how to do it?

Referrals can be made to the Single Point of Access for children or young people who present with moderate mental health or emotional health difficulties by a GP or other professional that includes:

  • Self harm or suicidal ideation but not intent.
  • Phobias – having a moderate impact on functioning, that can be managed at a community level but can escalated to Specialist CAMHS if required.
  • Anxiety related presentations that are over and above what is deemed usual for the young person and that require a mental health intervention (for example not a reaction to a social, environmental, sensory or other unmet need that has not been addressed).
  • Moderate low mood that do not meet the threshold for a specialist CAMHS service.
What questions need to be considered when making a referral?
  • Has a tier 2 intervention or early intervention been tried already? (for example Young Somerset, counselling, MHST, PFSA)
  • Is this a reaction to something that needs another support service? (for example bereavement, family intervention, social care)